EDINBURGH educational publishing firm, Bright Red Publishing, delivered nearly 20,000 free books to schools last month as part of an offer in conjunction with the Educational Institute of Scotland.
Says a spokesperson: “Hundreds of teachers from schools across Scotland contacted the company in response to the offer of access to remaining stocks for outgoing Scottish Qualifications Authority exams. Rather than opting to recycle the books elsewhere, the company was keen to ensure that they could be put to good use – and the response has been incredible.”
Teachers have commented:
“Please pass on my thanks to the powers that be for the offer of the free past papers. I am sure it will make a significant impact on the success of the pupils.” David McLure – PT mathematics, John Paul Academy, Glasgow.
“Thank you so much. The books arrived yesterday and the pupils are absolutely delighted to receive them! Well done to the company for offering this service, we are really grateful for it. It has given the pupils extra motivation and will help them with the final push before the exam.” Jennifer Tinning – PT science, Perth Academy.
The spokesperson adds: “The offer and incredible demand comes at a time when educational spending is under the spotlight. Council spending on books for schools and libraries has been reported at as little as less than £10 per pupil, per year. Links between poverty and educational attainment have also been widely reported.”
John MacPherson, director at Bright Red Publishing, said: “We are taken aback by the response we have had to this offer and have been very busy shipping the books to schools before the Easter holiday. Even with new exams coming in, these books are a great resource and, in many cases, are being requested by schools struggling with budgetary constraints.”
Larry Flanagan, General Secretary of the EIS, commented: “The EIS is pleased to have been able to facilitate this offer of free text books to schools. The significant uptake highlights the importance of resources to school departments, and underlines our welcome of the government’s recent announcement, in response to an EIS plea for more cash, of an additional £1 million for text books linked to the new qualifications.”
Bright Red publishing has created a suite of resources for the new Scottish qualifications with Study Guides available for the National 4, National 5 and CfE Higher cohorts.
They have also developed an award-winning and entirely free online Digital Zone in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University (www.brightredbooks.net) which currently has more than 17, 000 registered users.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Bright Red Publishing publishes its high quality Study Guides for Scotland’s secondary students taking National 4, National 5 and CfE Higher qualifications.
They won the Education Publisher of the Year award at the Independent Publishing Awards in both 2010 and 2011, the Edinburgh section of the 2013 Local Business Accelerator Awards and the Stationers’ Company Innovation Excellence Award in 2014.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Bright Red Publishing. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka Press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email info@allmediascotland.com for more information.
Check out twitter.com/nonstopstories for your very own media releases feed…
And check out too twitter.com/allEducationPR. Also twitter.com/allEdinburghPR.
To catch up on all the media releases recently posted on to allmediascotland.com, you need only click the link icon that you see towards the bottom right of our two media release ‘gateway boxes’.
It’s this icon, here. It’s your route straight into the rich archive.
—
Bright Red Publishing contact details…
Contact: John MacPherson
Phone: 01312205804
Email: john.macpherson@brightredpublishing.co.uk
Website: http://www.brightredpublishing.co.uk
